And There is Lunch!

  As is our habit, Mark and I ventured down to the pier early this morning.  While most of the fishing gear had been stowed away lest a storm rumbled in from the Gulf, we did bring the net and a bucket back to its usual spot.  As we neared the end of the pier, we could see that the water was literally churning with a school of fish.  Mullet!  Biloxi Bacon! Good stuff for those who know how to cook them.  Needless to say, Mark threw the net and in the first throw caught fourteen of the silvery fish.  Yep, there was lunch.

  We watched for a bit as the great schools kept the waters swirling. September brings the mullet in the Bay by the droves.  Thousands of the fish school in the shallow waters and fishermen (and women) make haste to fill their freezers.  Mark and I do not.  While we catch our share of the fish, it is not our aim to freeze any.  Mullet, for those who are not aware of the fact, are best eaten within minutes of being caught.  Quickly fried in a coating of flour, cornmeal, garlic, red pepper, salt and black pepper, these fish are fantastic!  Left in a freezer or refrigerator for any length of time, the meat becomes strong and almost bitter tasting.  This is the very reason we eat ours as soon as we catch them.  Usually, the fish are served with a side of potato salad and maybe some good, ole baked beans! 

  Back during the Civil War and then again during the Great Depression, the moniker of Biloxi Bacon was slapped on the lowly mullet. During the Civil War, the northern troops tried to place blockades at crucial ports to keep supplies from reaching the people of the Gulf Coast region.  It was the thought that if supplies could not reach the people, they would soon run out of food and the towns would be easy to take.  Being a resourceful folk, instead of starving, people fished.  There was a never-ending supply of fresh fish.  These were eaten with grits and became known as "Biloxi Bacon".  Years later, during the Great Depression, things were quite dismal but that resourcefulness came into play again. People that did not mind doing a little work feasted upon the fish.  The Biloxi Bacon moniker was fondly applied to the fish once again.  Now, only the locals (most who just heard tales of hard times from their elders) refer to the fish by this name.  I am sure that if the need ever arises, these same locals will fall back on their knowledge of fishing as a means of supporting their families.  It is just in us to use what we have and not whine nor complain.

  Our lunch was delicious and we have plans to repeat this again tomorrow if things go well.  We will also try to catch, clean and share the wealth of fish with our elderly friends who can no longer catch their own.  It is the neighborly thing to do!